A TikTok star, Matthew Lani, was recently apprehended while attempting to enter a hospital in South Africa, after facing allegations of falsely presenting himself as a doctor. Lani had gained a substantial following on TikTok by disseminating medical advice and selling medications through his online platform.
With an attempt to bypass security, Lani resorted to disguising himself with a surgical mask and stethoscope when he ventured to the hospital on Sunday night. However, his escape plan was thwarted when he was caught by the police after jumping out of a bathroom window.
The Department of Health in Gauteng province issued a statement, stating that Lani had frequently utilized the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg to create and disseminate misleading content, while falsely claiming to be a qualified doctor.
Before his TikTok account was eventually closed, Lani had amassed nearly 300,000 followers. However, undeterred by this setback, he promptly opened another account which has already garnered over 50,000 followers.
Lani’s arrest comes after a lengthy manhunt, triggered by suspicions surrounding his qualifications. Although he claims to have obtained a medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, the institution denies this assertion. Additionally, the Department of Education has clarified that Lani did not even attain his school-leaving certificate.
Further attempting to mislead authorities, Lani introduced himself using a different name, Dr Sanele Zingelwa, and falsely claimed to be a second-year medical intern at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital. Dr. Zingelwe has now filed a criminal complaint against Lani, accusing him of fraud.
In South Africa, Lani is just another individual to face arrest for impersonating a doctor. In fact, the Ministry of Health reports that there have been approximately 124 such arrests in the past three years.
